Thomas F. Smith, SFC-US Army, 71 of Tampa, Florida funeral service is 2:30 PM, Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at Florida National Cemetery, 6502 SW 102nd Avenue, Bushnell, Florida 33513 with Deacon Bryon Otradovec and Captain Art Nave (US Army) Chaplin and the Marion County Military Honor Guard providing full military honors. Please assemble at the cemetery between 2:00 PM and service time. At the conclusion of the service, burial will take place in the cemetery.
Thomas Smith contributed to changing the world in many ways ranging from helping to shape the solar home industry to how personal security is handled today.
His career started in the U.S. Army where he served on Special Forces “A” Teams and was an early member of the Studies and Operations Group.
After the military he moved to Japan to study martial arts where he studied under the Osensei of Aikido. Despite moving to the country with little Japanese language skills, he graduated from the prestigious Sophia University in Tokyo and eventually published books in Japanese. Following graduation he entered a think tank in Tokyo and travelled extensively doing research on emerging trends. The result of this research culminated in his designing and building the first ever prototype of a passive solar home in Lake Tahoe.
Over the next decade, 1000’s of his solar designs were built around the country. The homes and technology he developed were featured in many publications including but not limited to Popular Mechanics, Better Homes and Gardens, MacWorld (for being one of the very first adopters of Mac-based CAD programs for home design).
Never one to sit still, he would occasionally harness his earlier special operations trainings and would routinely engage in special security cases around the world. This eventually changed his focus away from the solar home industry and into the venturous world of international security. He became business partners with the legendary Richard Meadows and worked throughout Latin America. Over the next couple of decades he would help organizations navigate through security issues (ranging from corporate security to kidnap negotiations) in some of the world’s most dangerous countries. He headed up security for Fortune 500 companies and large NGO’s throughout Latin America, Middle East, Haiti, and South Asia. His innovative approaches to security while sticking to the motto of “keeping things simple” have led to pivotal works in the field (videos, manuals, etc.) and his upcoming book on the subject.
He was a member of the American Society for Industrial Security and a life member of both the Special Operations Association and Special Forces Association.
SFC Smith served in the US Army during the Vietnam War Era. He was awarded the US Army Commendation Medal; the Good Conduct Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters; the National Defense Service Medal and a Purple Heart. He also was awarded a Master Parachute Badge; a Combat Infantry Badge; a M-1 Expert Badge and a M-14 Expert Badge.
He is survived by his loving family: his wife, Maria Del Carmen Smith of Tampa, Florida; children: sons, Taro Smith of Boulder, Colorado and Tony Ramos of Lima, Peru; daughter, Jenny Ramos and her husband, Fabian of Buenos Aires, Argentina; a brother, George Patrick Smith and his wife, Rosa of New York, NY and a grandson, Salvador Mariano of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The family requests, that in lieu of flowers, to please make a donation to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation in the Memory of SFC Thomas F. Smith.
Veterans Funeral Care
727-524-9202
our deepest sympathy to maricarmen & taro. our brief visit with tommy was soo enjoyed by us only two weeks before his passing. we will always think of him as a warm & caring individual
joan & curtis
Our sincere condolences to Tom’s family and all who loved Tom. Those of us who knew him personally will greatly miss a dear friend, and all of us will mourn the passing of a team mate, a confident man of vision who dared to be different, trusted his comrades, and left his fate to God. Farwell brother, until we meet again.
Dear Maricarmen & Taro – Pat and I send our prayers and condolences on Tom’s passing. We shall accompany you tomorrow as he is laid to rest at Florida National Cemetery. May he rest in peace.
My good friend and mentor Tom. I was trying to trace you on line so that we could catch up. I will dearly miss putting the world to rights and hearing about your life with your “most beautiful woman on earth”. We will rendezvous later my friend, but not just yet. Rest in peace Tom, and enjoy the reorg.
Tom Smith and I were in A Co., 1st SFG in 1964 and 1965 on Okinawa. I last spoke to Tom in about 1999 when he was living in Peru. Great guy. My deepest condolences to his family.
Tom Sims
He called and said good bye. Maybe one more final final. Gone in a blink of an eye. Never forgotten. A great mentor. Rest in peace good soul Tom. May the light shine upon you.
Tom was a good friend. He was a mentor. He showed me the way. We missed our last lunch together. Rest in peace. You will not be forgotten.